Mumbai: Leopard visit prompts dos, don’ts session for residents of Dindoshi society

A team from Mumbaikars for SGNP, biologist Nikit Surve from Wildlife Con Society-India along with Forest Department officials held an awareness session for residents of Garden View building on Sunday

A building located on the periphery of Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) in Dindoshi had an unusual visitor recently. A video of a leopard taking a stroll in the premises of the building went viral, following which an awareness session was conducted by various stakeholders with the building's residents.

The residents of Garden View building in Dindoshi, New Mhada Colony, had shared CCTV footage of the leopard, which was spotted on their premises on August 14, with the Forest Department. The leopard was seen entering the building from the parking lot and then running out through the gate onto the street outside.

On Sunday, a team from Mumbaikars for SGNP, including members Shailesh Rao, Sonu Singh and biologist Nikit Surve from Wildlife Con Society-India, along with Forest Department officials, held the awareness session.

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Well-maintained society

The team that visited the spot also observed that the society has managed the premises very well - there was no garbage or stray dogs inside. However, there were many stray dogs on the road and in the rest of the locality.

Singh said, "Our team member, Rao, explained that leopards enter human territories in search of dogs despite having good prey inside the park as dogs are easy prey.

Also, he explained the importance of the national park, of leopards and of safeguarding them. He then moved to the dos and don'ts, highlighting the vulnerability of children and how a conflict can be avoided."

There were questions around stray dog management handled by Surve and Singh. Residents were told to send letters to the local ward office and the local corporator to help with the sterilisation of stray animals.